Automatic electric-generation system.



M. A. NEWSTETI'ER, DEGD. W. I. IEWBTETTEB, ADIIIIBTBATOB.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC GENERATION SYSTEM. nrmognox mum in no, 1900.

Patnted' Apr. 2.6; I910.

4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MALCOLM A. NEWSTETTER, 0F READING, PENNSYLVANIA; WILLIAM M. NEWSTETTER ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID MALCOLM A. NEWSTETTER, DECEASED.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC-GENERATION SYSTEM.

Specification of Lettei's Patent. Patented Apr. 26., 1910- Application filed May 20, 1999. Serial No. 497,301.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,.MAL00LM A. Nnwsrnr- TER, citizen of the United States, residing. at Readin in the county of Berks and State of Pennsy Vania, have invented certain new? and useful Improvements in Automatic Electric-Generation Systems, of wliich.the following is a specification.

This invention relates, to an automatic. electric generation system (as distinguished from automatic controlling and circuit breaking devices) using an internal combustion or explosive engine as a prime motive power in connection with a suitable electromagnetic machineand an electric storage battery or accumulator. f

The objects of m invention .are not only to provide means or charging the battery (the current from which may be used for any purpose) but to make these means entirely automatic in its operation; also to employ no other prime units to obtain this result other than the units of the plant, viz: the explosive motor, the electro-magnetic machine and the electric storage battery. In other words, to make the above units automatic in their operation and able to care for themselves, without the assistance ofan attendant, starting, of course, with the battery partially charged.

A further object is to provide an arrangement wherein the battery is always connected to the circuit in the building where'the current is to be used.

In connection with the above mentioned prime units I provide a voltmeter whose needle will close a circuit when the battery charge reaches a certain predetermined low .point, and thus start the prime motor; and

also, an instrument, preferably in the formof a watt-meter or an ampere hour meter, the operation of which will be largely dependent on'the amount of electricity and the for charging the battery, and the battery itself are utilized as means for starting the engine to charge the battery.

The ignition circuit to the explosive engine is also controlled by the instruments which control the main circuit between the battery and the dynamo.

I also provide means for keeping the compression of the engine cylinder released until its momentum is sufficient to carry :it past the compression point.

A further object is to provide means whereby the said electric storage battery is prevented from discharging below a certain predetermined point without starting the engine and dynamo to replenish the battery and to automatically stop said engine when a certain predetermined amount of electricity has passed into the battery.

In the drawing :Figure l is a diagram of my system. Fig. 2 shows the compression releasing apparatus for the engine.

he'numeral 1 designates the explosive engine; 2 the electromagnetic machine; 3 the electric storage battery; t the voltmeter; 4 the wattmeter; 5 and 5 the magnets 6 is the ignition coil and 7 the lights or equivalent. 1

the voltage, by reason of burning of lights or other cause, is reduced until the needle 8 on the voltmeter reaches the predetermined point where it contacts with the electric terminus 9, this contact will close the circuit leading from the battery through the voltmeter to the magnet 5 and cause it to draw the pivoted arm 10 toward it. provided with a spring 11 so placed that it will keep the arm in either position placed by the magnets. toward the magnet 5 the free end will contact with the terminals 12 of the main circuit and close said circuit; simultaneously with said action, the arm will also contact with the terminal 13 of the ignition circuit and produce the initial spark in the engine to which it is connected at the spark plug 14.

It will be seen that in this manner the electro-magnetic machine will first operate as a motor, and inasmuch as it is connected by a belt 15 with the engine, it will start the saidengine and permit it to draw its first charge and begin its action. When the engine has thus been started, it in turn will give motion to the electro-magnetic machine through the same belt connection, and thus convert it into a dynamo, and this d namo willbegin to charge the battery. I on This arm is When this arm moves certain predetermined amount of electricity "has passed through the meter 48 to the battery, the needle 16 on the meter will contact with the electric terminus 16 and energize the magnet to which it is connected. This action will cause the said magnet to draw the arm away from the magnet 5 and toward the magnet 53 and thus break the contacts at 12 and 13 and stop the engine.

In Fig. 2 I have shown how the compression'is released in the engine cylinder. In this view the numeral 17 designates the governor connected by a crank arm and rod 18 to the petcock 19 in the cylinder. When the engine begins to move, there would not, with the cock closed, be sufficient power to draw and compress the initial charge. In this construction the cock is open and re mains so until the engine gains suflicient speed to throw out the governors, which also, through the crank arm and rod 18 will close the petcock and by that time the engine has gained suflicient speed to draw and compress the charge.

It 'is evident that my system comprises an automatic means for operating a plant of the class described, as the circuit for starting the engine, through which the battery is charged by means of the electromagnetic machine, is automatically closed after the voltage of the battery has been reduced to a certain predetermined point, as indicated by the voltmeter; and in like manner the'cirvcuit by means of which the engine is tain predetermined amount of eleetricityhas netic machine, an electric storage battery,

an instrument responsive to the condition of the charge of the battery for starting the engine and an instrument controlled by the direction of flow and amount of electricity passing therethrough for stopping the engine.

3. In an automatic electric generation' system, a prime motor, an electro-magnetic machine, an electric storage battery, an instrument responsive to the condition of the charge of the battery for starting the motor,

and an "instrument controlled by the direction of flow and amount of current passing through said instrument for stopping the motor.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature, in presence of tWo itnesses.

MALCOLM A. NEl/VSTETTER.

lVitnesses En. A. KELLY, ELMER W. DECK. 

